Elevator safety device



Nov. 21, 1939.

B. HENRICKSEN ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DSC. 50, 1956 km, j@ ATFGRNEw v wy, kg

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Nov. 21, 1939. B. HENRlcKsEN ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVICE Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1936 a um a@ M f f l* M610 53 2 a 0s y f s MFT 2. J

INVENTOR.

@im .K N om .w a il@ Patented Nov. l21, 1939 ELrivAroasAFE'rYnnvIcE Bjarne Henricksen; NorthBergen, AN. J., assignor to -Scdgwick Machine Works', v-IncorporateL Poughkeepsie, N. Y., a.. corporation of. New` York.A e

VApplicationDecember 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,192

'Y This invention relates to safetyl devices for elevator constructionsv and more particularly `to combined door-locking and circuit-controlling devices adapted especially foruse in connection with dumbwaiters. v'

' An object of the invention is `to providev mechf' anism associated- 4v'with va vertically moving car, and with a door, for'locking thedoor in closed position yat all :times while the car Lvis f not `in alignment lwith the door opening. 1

Another object of the invention is` to lprovide mechanism whereby the energizing'circuit,- controlling movement of the car, is held closed while the door is locked and is held open while the door is unlocked and is in 7open positionrelative tothecar. l. y Another objecty of the invention is to provide a housing vfor control mechanism adapted to be secured to the jamb ofa door and which contains mechanism operated both by the door and by the car in'the vshaft associated with'the door. A

A further object of the linvention `is toprovide safety devices of the foregoing character so constructed as to' require a small space for installation, and soconstructed that afminimum of moving and stationary parts are required whereby the advantages of utility and '-spacel saving are obtained. :.1

Infcarrying out the foregoing and other obijects ofA theinventiomuse is made'of a housing whichcan-be secured toa door jamb preferably either at lthe top or thebottom thereof. Connected to the housing in some suitable fashion is.

an arm to be contacted by a control cam on they verticallymoving car in the shaft, which arm has a locking member associated therewith. This locking member isadapted to vbe engaged by a keeper attached to the shaft door'so that inf one position ofthe locking member the keeper prevents movement` of thedoor and in the other-po` sitionjof the locking member the keeper is re-A leased so that the door can be opened.. Also associated with the locking mechanismis a circuit-control device so operated that when. the

door is in' closed position and .locked` the circuit is closed so that the carcan be operated in the' shaft. When the door, however, is opened', the circuit is broken so that energy cannot be supplied' to thefcar-moving mechanism, with the.

result thatthe car cannot be energized to move until.y all doorslassociated with the shaft thereof are closed. f

vmember adapted to enter ahousing secured to the jamb andV engagef alocking crank member ltherein. The crankinernber is actuated by an arm, oneA end of which engages a cam on the verti'cally'moving car. YSe'curedfalso within the casing are two contactfmembers which are 'adapted to be bridged by-a conductor'extendin'g thereacross when the latch is 'locked by ytheI cranklocrkin'g member.' The parts comprising the contactmembers andthe bridge are so related tiine.v f

In another' form of'` the invention especially adaptable for use in'conne'ction withA vertically sliding doorsVv the casing to be 'secured to the jamb or adjacent thereto has an arm extending beyond one edge of thecasing'.- One of the slidingl doors- (if there be a' pair thereof) hasaVL keeper A securedV thereto which is movable into po-"l sition to be'eng'aged by thelocking arm when the door'or doors are closed. In addition, the casing has/within the interior thereof a relatively iixed contact and a movable contact,A the latter being provided with'an` actuator which is `engaged yby `the doorjkeeper'V to ymove the movable contact toV circuit-closing positionwhen the door is in locked position.: Again, the circuit closing' parts are .so related that the energizing circuit isffclosed only when the door fully shut'uand also? provision is -made for causing a wiping movementfof the contacts to eliminate the necessity for anycleaning thereof. I yQther features, objects Land. advan tages of the invention will become apparent` by reference tothefollowing detaileddescription'l of .the accom-l panying drawings illustrating the same, wherein Fig. '1 is a yvertical section-of a po l rtion of a shaft With theinvention appliedthereto;

' Fig. 2 is a. vertical section Vtak UNIfrlfol STATES -PATlslKuY ori-ffice -'Fig. 3 is an enlarged face view vof the keeper"4 line 4-4 of Fig. 3;-

plate used. in the presentjinvention;

"Fig, 4 `is agsection taken substantia Figf.5 is a central verticaljsecti'on-of the Casing of the presentinvention; e

Fig.i6` is asection taken subs'tantia lly on `the Fig. '1 is a side elevation of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a. vertical section of the same mechanism in conjunction with a keeper; Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary showing of the arrangement of Fig. 8 with the contacts in open position; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary showing of a safety feature of the arrangement shown in Fig. 7. Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l, I8 indicates generally a shaft for a durnbwaiter orother vertically moving car II, such car being shown only in outline and in fragmentary construction. The shaft I0 is provided with a door opening I 2 closed by a door I4 hinged at I5 to one edge 'of the shaft opening. Secured to the jamb of the opening in some convenient position is a housing indicated generally at I6, and secured to the vdoor. I4 is a keeper plate indicated generally at Ill-positioned to be brought in alignment with the housing I 6.

The keeper mechanism in addition to plate I1 Y comprises a lock member I8 `having a hook I9 at the end thereof. lock member may be formed integrally with the plate or may be secured thereto in any desired fashion. Extendingl from plate I1 is a sleeve 2B -of some suitable insulating material, such sleevebeing hollo-wed out and threaded for the reception of a bolt 2|. n ut 22 on the bolt serves to locate the bolt longitudinally relative to the sleeve. The plate I1 is providedwith a pluralityof apertures 24 for the passage of s crews orY other fastening means for Securing theplate -tQ the door Al 4.

The housing indicated generally, at I6 comprises a rectangular shell 3l) made of some suitable metal with the opposite sides thereof adapted to be closed by plates 3\I The corners of the shell are internally enlarged so that threaded aperceive screws by which the plates 3| are locked in position. The apertures areprovided for the Apassage of lag screws or other fasteningmeans utilized for 4secured the housing tothe door jamb; it being understood of course'that the plates 3l have apertures in registerwith the openings 34. n Extending inwardly from one wall of the shell 36 areseparated ears 35p'rovidedwith aligned apertures 36. A crank 31` is 4pivotally Vmounted between these ears`35 on a shaft 38 passing through the apertures 36. One arm of crank 31 extends through an opening 39 in theA casing wall and terminates at an enlarged head 4U. The other arm of the crank 31 is provided with a hook terminal 4I which is located within the casing. Aspring 42 has one end resting onV a boss 44 extending inwardly from one shell wall and the other end resting on one arm of the crank 31. Suitable means such as short studs 45 are provided for retaining the spring in proper positionf This spring serves to maintain the crank 31 in the position shown in Fig.5. Secured to the arm of crank 31 which' extends through the casing is a bar on the upper end-of which is rotatably mounted a roller 5I. The method of attaching the bar 56 to the head46 of the crank arm is Shown clearly in Fig. 6. Use is'made of a short bar 52 having an angular extension 54 of a-length corresponding to the thickness ofthe head 4U. The bar 56 and the short bar 52 are provided with aligned apertures, and the head-40 is also provided with an aperture to be aligned with the end-most apertures in the two bars. Bolts 55 passing through the aligned apertures have nuts 56 threadedly engaged on the ends thereof. By relieving the pressure supplied by these nuts 56 it is possible to adjust the angular relation between the bar of crank 31 and the bar 50 to any desired degree.

: years 35 is a block 66 of some suitable insulating material. This block is fastened in place by means of screws 6I. A thin sheet of vinsulating materiali-62 is positioned between the wall of the casing and the block 6I) and is provided with four strips tting adjacent the four edges of the block 6U, such strips being shown ati4.` Secured to one side of block 66 is a plate 65 of some good electric conducting material, such platej being secured to the block by screws 66. This plate has a tongue 61 extending beyond the inner edge of -block 66 and has an vangular portion 68 extendingover the inner edge of the block 6U. The angular part 68 is threaded for, the reception of a terminal screw 69. A similar plate 10 is secured inthe same fashion. to theother side of the block 66 in staggered relation to the plate 65, and the plate 16 has a corresponding part providinga terminal screw 1I. Electric conductors 12 and 14 can pass through an opening 15 in `thecasing wall to be connected respectively to the terminal screws 69 and 1|.

One wall of the casing 3D is provided with an opening 16 and a second opening 11. rThese openings are so spaced that their centers are separated a distance corresponding to the distance between the centers of the hook member I8 and the insulating sleeve 20 carrying the conducting bridge 2I.

The operation and use of this construction is substantially as follows: The housing I6 is secured to the door jamb either near the top thereof or near the bottom thereof or at any other suitable location. The keeper member I1 is then secured to the door I4 in such position that the lock I8 and thebridge 2l can be moved into alignment with the openings 16 and 11 respectively. When the parts have been so secured to their respective mountings, the bar 50 may be properly adjusted, such adjustment preferably' being made while a car I I is in proper register with the door opening I2. Such adjustment is made when the roller 5I is in contact with cam 51 so that under these conditions the crank 31 is rotated until the hook part 4I thereof is below the path of travel of the hook part I9 of lock I8. Under these conditions, it is possible to4 move the `door I4 freely.

When `the adjustment has been made the bar 50 is locked in positionby tightening the respective nuts 56.

- Withthis construction let it be assumed that a car is at rest at the proper landing. The door I4 is free to beopen since, as before stated, the cam 51 causes the bar 50 and the crank 31 secured thereto to be rotated about the shaft 38 until the hook AI9 is released by the hook 4I. When the door is open the two contacts 61 and 61" are not bridged so that a carfenergizing circuit associated therewith cannot be closed to cause movement of the car in the shaft. As soon as the door is closed, however, the lock |8 intrudes into the casing and the head of the bolt 2| bridges the contacts 61 and 61 thereby closinga circuit including the conductors 12 and 14. The contacts 61 and 61 and the bridge formed l by the head of bolt 2| are so arranged that the respective parts engage with a wiping action which serves to remove any dust or other foreign matter and to thereby maintain the electrical contacts in clean condition. These conductors 12 and 14 are associated in some manner with the control circuit for the car. This control circuit can then be energized by some switch arrangement (not shown' and of conventional character) to cause the car to move away from the particular landing under discussion. As soon as the car has moved away from this landing the bar 50 is moved about its pivotal point by the spring 42, such movement being permitted by the removal of the cam 51. Such movement causes the hookl4| to moveupwardly into the path of the hook |9 yso that attempted opening of the door causes an engagement of these respective hook parts effectively preventing opening of the door. Froml this it follows that while the door is inclosed position the contacts associated with the car energizing circuit are bridged so that the car can be moved freely in the shaft. Once the door has moved beyond a position in which the hook parts of the two locking members cannot be engaged, `then these contacts are unbridged so that the circuit y controlling movement of the car is deenergized.,

This arrangement provides a simple and efcient safety control for lthe car.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, isadapted particularly for use in connection with installations wherein the opening in the shaft is closed by either a sliding single door or by a pair of sliding doors. In this form of the invention use is made of an elongated substantially rectangular shaped opensided shell 80 of some suitable metal. The sides of the shell are closed by plates 8| having apertures therein for the passage of screws threaded into threaded apertures 82 in the casing. One edge of the casing has an extension 84, to the top part of which is pivotally secured a crank member 85 by means of a bolt 86 passing through the extension 84 and' threadedly passing through an aperture in the crank 85. A nut 81 locks the parts together so that the crank is capable of rotation relative to the extension. Extending outwardly from the extension 84 are separated ears 88. These ears are positioned on each side of an arm 89 of the crank 85. This arm 89 is provided with a through threaded aperture 90 for the reception of a short screw plug 9| on one side thereof and for the reception of a coiled spring 92 on the other side thereof. The aperture 90 has the two longitudinal halves thereof so threaded that the plug 9| can be inserted from either end thereof. This plug 9| can be adjusted so that it will strike one of the ears 88 to limit movement of the crank towards suchv ear. The arm part 89 of crank 85 has a portion 93 thereof extending beyond one edge of the casing 80 and this portion 93 has the top part thereof provided with sloping edges as shown at 94. Secured to the upper end of the crank 85 is an arm mechanism similar to the arm 50 and accordingly the various parts have been given the same reference characters. p

Pivotally mounted partially within the casing 80'is a block 95, which block is capable of rotationto a limited extent on a shaft 96 mounted between opposite .sides of the housing. A striker part 91 .of this block 95 is located exterior of the casing and a suitable opening is provided in the casing'wall for the passage of a part of the block from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown inv Fig. 10.v Depending from block 95 is a stud 98" of some suitable insulating material, such stud being provided with a cross slot 99, one wall ofwhich is flared outwardly as shown in Fig. 8. A spring 95 acts to force the block to the Fig. 10 position.

A block of insulating material |00 is secured withinthe casing by means' of screws |0|. A thin sheet of insulating material has a portion thereof`A interposed between the block and the casingA as shown at |02 with the remainder thereof foldable around the block to form a lining within the casing. Secured to the block at the upper edge thereof is an angle plate |04 of some good electric conducting material, such plate having a contact arm |05 extending upwardly therefrom and having a terminal screw |06 secured thereto. A second angle plate |01 of similar Inaterial has a bent contact arm |08 extending upwardly therefrom and a terminal screw |09 secured thereto. Conductors ||0 and which pass through an opening |2 in the bottom of the casing are connected respectively to the terminal screws |06 and |09. 'I'he contacts |05 and |08I possess some degree of resiliency for a purpose to be explained later. AA boss ||3 extending from the wall of the casing has an aperture |3, therethrough. Another aperture I4 is provided in the upper end of the casing. The two plates 8| are provided with holes to register with apertures |3 and |4 so that the complete housing can beA secured to a door jamb.

The striker utilized in this form of the invention comprises a bar of metal, a portion |20 of which has been illustrated. This bar is adapted to be secured directly to a sliding door so that when the door is closed the bar will assume the position relative .to the housing shown in Fig. '7. The end of the bar extending beyond the edge of the door, which edge has been shown by broken lines |2|, has a recess |22 cut therein and the llower edge of the bar is pointedas indicated at The operationv and use of this form of the invention is substantially as follows: The housing is secured to a door jamb at some suitable point with the roller 5| on the end of bar 50 positioned to be engaged by a cam 51 secured to the vertically movable car.A The keeper |20 is secured to a sliding door in such fashion that when the sliding door is closed the keeper assumes the position shown in Fig. 8. In this position the lower edge of the outer end of the keeper engages the part 91 of block 95 and forces the block about its pivotal point against the resistance of spring 95. The upper end of spring contact |08 ts in the slot 99 of the stud 98 so that when the block 95 has been moved to its innermost position relativey to the casing contact |08 is forced against contact |05 thereby closing a circuit associated with the conductors I| 0 and The contacts |05 and |08 are of spring nature and of such length and dimensions that movement of contact |08 against contact |05 causes a flexing of the latter contact thereby providing a wiping action which servesy to keep these members in clean condition. When all doors have been properly closed it is possible for the car in the shaft to move thereby relieving the crank B5 from Athe resistance furnished by spring S2 so that this crank is moved to the position shown in Fig. 7, wherein the latch member 93 is located directly above the keeper |20. Due to such relative positions between the latch 93 and the keeper IZB, the door, the edge of which is shown at l2l, cannot be moved more than a very slight amount so that the door cannot be opened while a car is in movement in the shaft or while it is not in register with the door opening. The space between the top of the keeper 20 and the latch 93 is such that even though these parts be in engagement, still the keeper is maintained in engagement with the actuator block 95 to hold the circuit closed in the manner before stated.

When a car has reached a point in register with the door opening, the roller 5I is engaged by cam 5l moving the crank 85 about its pivotal point against spring 92 until the latch 93 is out of obstructing position relative to keeper l2. The door to which the keeper is attached may then be moved vertically since the keeper will pass by the latch. Such movement of the door causes the keeper to release the block 95 so that spring 95 causes pivotal movement of this block to the position shown in Fig. l0, wherein the contacts H35 and H38 are separated, due to the resiliency of contact Hi8, thereby breaking the car control circuit.

Should the sliding door be moved to open position a slight amount adventitiously While the car is starting its movement away from the landing, and before the roller 5l is out of engagement with cam 5l', the keeper 29 will be moved upwardly a slight amount. However, the parts are so proportioned that as the cam and roller are separated the spring 92 forces the crank 85 until stopped by plug 9i at which time the lower edge of the -latch 33 will fit in the recess |22 in the end of the keeper. This position is shown in Fig. ll. The consequence of such action is to break the energizing circuit established by the contacts H35 and Hi8 and at the same time the door is locked against further opening movement. The car naturally will be stopped at some point in the shaft and cannot be moved until the open-door condition has been rectified. Thus7 the arrangement assures that the door will be in substantially closed position before the car can move in the shaft. This arrangement of double stops for the doors serves to positively prevent the insertion of any part of an operators body into the shaft, thereby positively lessening the chances of accidents.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention in either illustrated form provides arrangements whereby the factor of safety in the operation of motor-driven vertically moving cars within the shafts is materially increased. In either form of the invention the housing can be secured to either side of the door jamb to accommodate in one instance a door hinged at either side of the shaft, and can be located at the top or the bottom of the door opening and can be so positioned that the bar 5E! extends either upwardly or downwardly as conditions may require. Since the two sides of the respective housingsare of similar shape and formation it follows that the housings may be attached with either side against a supporting structure and due to the adjustment of the bars 50 relative to their respective cranks, it follows that these bars may extend either to the right or the left respective to the casings. Thus, the devices are adjustable to meet any conditions which may arise in different installations. The arrangement whereby the positions of plug Si and spring 92 are interchangeable permits the arm to be held in locking position by the spring in either of the two positions. The present invention in either form is of such construction that a minimum of parts are required due to the simplicity of design and hence the devices can. be made at a relatively small cost. At the same time, the devices are of the utmost efficiency and serve admirably in all respects.

It is to be understood that the invention can be modified beyond the embodiments illustrated herein, in view of which any limitations imposed thereupon are to be such only as are defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. The combination, with a power driven car in a vertical shaft and with door-closed landings in said shaft, of vertically sliding doors for said landings, a housing adapted to be fastened to a door jamb, spaced spring contacts within said housing, a contact actuator pivoted in said housing and having a part extending therefrom, a 'f crank pivotally secured exteriorly to said housing, and a keeper pla-te secured to a door fixed immovable relative thereto and movable with the door into position to engage said contact actuator and to underlie a portion of said crank.

2. The combination, with a power driven car in a vertical shaft and with door-closed landings in said shaft, said car having a cam thereon, of vertically sliding doors for said landings, a housing adapted to be fastened to a door jamb, spaced spring contacts within. said housing, a contact actuator pivoted in said housing and having a part extending therefrom, a crank pivotally secured exteriorly to said housing and having an adjustable arm extending into said shaft, a cam engaging member on the end of said arm, and a keeper plate fixed to a door immovable relative thereto and movable with the door into position to engage said contact actuator and to underlie a portion of said crank.

3. The combination of a housing adapted to be fastened to a door jamb of an elevator shaft, spaced spring contacts within said housing, a contact actuator pivoted in said housing and having a part extending therefrom, a crank pivotally l secured exteriorly to said housing, an extension arm adjustably secured to said crank to extend into said shaft, and a keeper plate adapted to be secured to a vertically sliding door in fixed immovable relation thereto and to be movable with the door into position to engage said contact actuator and to underlie a portion of said crank.

4. The combination of a housing adapted to be fastened to a door jamb of an elevator shaft, contacts within said housing, a contact actuator pivoted in said housing and having a part extending therefrom, a lever pivotally secured to said housing and lying entirely exteriorly thereof, an extension arm secured to said lever to extend into said shaft, a keeper member adapted to be secured to a sliding door in xed immovable relation thereto, said lever being biased to cause a part thereof to extend into the path of movement of said keeper, said keeper being movable into position to engage said contact actuator to close said contacts and to lie behind a part of said lever whereby such part-of the lever prevents sliding movement of the keeper in one direction.

`5. The combination of a housing adapted to be fastened to a door jamb of an elevator' shaft, 75'

contacts within said housing, a contact actuator pivoted in said housing and having a part extending therefrom, a lever pivotally secured to said housing and lying entirely exteriorly thereof, an extension arm secured to said lever tol extend into said shaft, a keeper member adapted to be secured to a sliding door in iixed immovable relatio-n thereto, said lever being biased to cause a part thereof to extend into the path of movement of said keeper, said keeper being movable into position to engage said contact actuator to close said contacts and to lie behind a part of said lever whereby such part of the lever prevents sliding movement of the keeper in one direction, said lever and extension arm being adjustable to reverse the bias thereof whereby said housing can be secured to either side of a door opening.

6. The combination of a housing adapted to be fastened to a door jamb of an elevator shaft, co-ntacts within said housing,-a contact actuator pivoted in said housing and having a part extending therefrom, a lever pivotally secured to said y housing and lying entirely exteriorly thereof,v an extension arm secured to said lever to extend into said shaft, a keeper memberadapted to be secured to a sliding door in fixed immovable relation thereto, said lever being biased to cause a part thereof to'extend into the path of movement of y said keeper, said keeper being movable, upon' closing of the door, into position to engage said cono tact actuator to close said contacts and to` lie entirely behind a part of said lever, said keeper'having a part thereof adapted to lie behind said part lof the'lever when the door is partially open,

whereby further opening movement of the door is prevented.

'7. I'he combination of a housing adapted to be fastened to a door jamb of an elevator shaft, contacts within said housing, a Contact `actuator pivoted in saidA housing and having a part extending therefrom, a lever pivotally secured to said housing and lying entirely exteriorly thereof, an extension arm secured to said lever to extend into said shaft, a keeper member adapted to be secured to a sliding door in fixed immovable relation` thereto, said lever being biased to cause a part thereof to extend into the path of movement of said keeper, said part of the lever having tapered surfaces lying in the path of move- 'ment of the keeper in one direction and having a substantially flat surface lying in the path of movement of the keeper in the other direction, said keeper being movable into positionto engage said contact actuator to close said contacts and to lie behind said flat surface whereby such surface of the lever prevents sliding movement of the keeper in one direction.

y 8. The combination of a housing adapted to be fastened to a door jamb of an elevator shaft, contacts within said housing, a Contact actuator pivoted in said housing and having a part extending therefrom, a' lever pivotally secured to said housing and lying entirely exteriorly thereof, an extension arm secured tosaid lever to extend into said shaft, a keeper member adapted to be secured to a sliding door in fixed immovable relation thereto), said keeper having a recess between the upper andV lower` edges thereof, said lever being biased to cause apart thereof to extend into the path of movement oi' said keeper, said keeper being movable into position to engage said contact actuator'to close said contacts and to lie behind a part of said lever whereby such part of the lever prevents sliding movement of the keeper in one direction when the door is closed, said part ofthe lever being engageable in the keeper recess when the doo-r is partially open to prevent further opening movement thereof. l

BJARNE HENRICKSEN. 

